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. 2021 Sep 29;19(1):254.
doi: 10.1186/s12916-021-02133-y.

SOCRATES-CoMix: a platform for timely and open-source contact mixing data during and in between COVID-19 surges and interventions in over 20 European countries

Frederik Verelst  1 , Lisa Hermans  2 , Sarah Vercruysse  3 , Amy Gimma  4 , Pietro Coletti  3 , Jantien A Backer  5 , Kerry L M Wong  4 , James Wambua  3 , Kevin van Zandvoort  4 , Lander Willem  1 , Laurens Bogaardt  5 , Christel Faes  3 , Christopher I Jarvis  4 , Jacco Wallinga  5   6 , W John Edmunds  4 , Philippe Beutels  1   7 , Niel Hens  1   3
Affiliations

SOCRATES-CoMix: a platform for timely and open-source contact mixing data during and in between COVID-19 surges and interventions in over 20 European countries

Frederik Verelst et al. BMC Med. .

Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV-2 dynamics are driven by human behaviour. Social contact data are of utmost importance in the context of transmission models of close-contact infections.

Methods: Using online representative panels of adults reporting on their own behaviour as well as parents reporting on the behaviour of one of their children, we collect contact mixing (CoMix) behaviour in various phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in over 20 European countries. We provide these timely, repeated observations using an online platform: SOCRATES-CoMix. In addition to providing cleaned datasets to researchers, the platform allows users to extract contact matrices that can be stratified by age, type of day, intensity of the contact and gender. These observations provide insights on the relative impact of recommended or imposed social distance measures on contacts and can inform mathematical models on epidemic spread.

Conclusion: These data provide essential information for policymakers to balance non-pharmaceutical interventions, economic activity, mental health and wellbeing, during vaccine rollout.

Keywords: COVID-19; Contact data; Europe; Mathematical modelling; Mixing patterns; SARS-CoV-2; Social contact behaviour.

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Conflict of interest statement

Not applicable.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of Europe showing the geographical spread of CoMix and CoMix-like data collection
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Overview of completed and scheduled CoMix data collection in Europe, as of 1 July 2021. Data collection in initial CoMix countries (as part of the EpiPose project) is depicted in blue, while extended CoMix data collection and data collection in collaboration with EpiPose partners are depicted in yellow and green, respectively. Colours correspond to the colours used in the map in Fig. 1. NA: Not applicable due to sample statistics not yet being available. * Estimated number or estimated timing. ** The participation rate is defined as the number of participants that completed the entire survey relative to the number of participants that opened the survey link. ‡ Due to data management issues during the initial data collection phase, parts of the data for Finland, Switzerland and Lithuania in Q1 2021 was removed by Ipsos due to quality concerns. As a result of a limited size of valid CoMix data collected for the Q1 2021 period, additional data is now being collected from June 2021 onwards
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Schematic overview of the different steps in the CoMix study. The figure reflects the typical data flow for most European countries, yet deviations from this scheme are present in some. Abbreviations: LSHTM, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; UHasselt, Hasselt University; EpiPose, Epidemic intelligence to minimize COVID-19’s public health, social and economic impact. Ipsos is a commercial market research company
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
A print screen of the SOCRATES-CoMix tool. This specific example shows a social contact matrix using data collected in wave 2 of the Belgian CoMix study with four age classes, for weekdays and physical contacts only
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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